Assistive Technology and Libraries

(Assistive Technology)

Libraries are places where individuals from all ages and walks of life can seek information on almost anything using physical resources, online resources, and information given during library programming. One way libraries are continuously creating ways to bridge the digital divide is by providing assistive technologies per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) making libraries more accessible to individuals with disabilities (Hopkins).

Having assistive tools in the library helps a partially or completely blind person use assistive technology by sound or text-to-speech on a computer to access the internet also, a person with mobility issues might use devices like scanning software, large or small keyboards, and trackballs (Mates). These technologies in the library are a gem to individuals who benefit from their use and help make life a little easier.

I found it fascinating that Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library held an event in 2017 during an eclipse, providing visitors “visually impaired” to hear and feel the eclipse using verbal descriptions and vibrations (Alfaro) This was one way the library created inclusivity thanks to the knowledge of staff and Nasa who created the app. Libraries can seek help from organizations to support implementing a more inclusive library. You can find some of the links to these organizations on the sidebar of this blog.

By: Estela Perez

Works Cited

Alfaro, Mariana. "Events Across New York Will Offer Ways to Watch the Eclipse; Even those who did little planning will be able to catch the astronomical phenomenon at a library--or bar." Wall Street Journal (Online), Aug 19, 2017. ProQuest, https://login.ezproxy.palomar.edu/login?auth=shibboleth&url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/events-across-new-york-will-offer-ways-watch/docview/1930092848/se-2.

“Assistive Technology.” State Library Victoria, 20 Feb. 2024, https://libapps-au.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/accounts/2097/images/Assistive_technology.jpeg. Accessed 11 May 2024.  

Hopkins, Janet. “Assistive Technology for the School Library.” Library Media Connection, vol. 21, no. 6, Mar. 2003, p. 46. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=9351367&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Mates, Barbara T., and Char Booth. “Information Power to All Patrons.” Library Technology Reports, vol. 48, no. 7, Oct. 2012, pp. 7–13. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=83242900&site=ehost-live&scope=site.